The stone skipped one, two, three times before faltering and sinking into the partially frozen pond. Kasumi stood with an impatient huff, watching her breath materialize for only a moment before being blown away by a wayward breeze. This was stupid. Tangled brown hair tussled around the soft jawline of her face, light blue gaze narrowed slightly as she bent down for more ammo. This next rock was more jagged and as she let it rest in her tightening grip, the Southern Water Tribe girl focused completely on they placid body of water before her. She took a quick deep breath, looked around for any sign of an audience, and then returned her focus back on the water. She threw the piece of rubble and it skipped for one, two, three- her right hand flicked upwards subtly guiding the water to meet the rock- four, five, six times. It skipped and landed with a thud on the other side of the pond.
"Are you crazy?!" The urgent whisper of a familiar voice sent the water bender whirling around on her heels, right hand facing the intruder while the other was bent over her head ready for battle. "Aisuko, don't sneak up on me like that!" For some reason anything over a whisper was unattainable as the two water tribe members faced each other. "If you get caught bending," the shorter girl looked around before continuing in an even smaller voice, wildly curly mane draped perfectly around wide brown eyes, "You'll be sent back to the Fire Nation! Or worse!"
Kasumi relaxed, letting both arms rest behind her head, looking over her childhood friend with a smirk. "Don't you have chores to do? Mom said it was your turn to make dinner for the soldiers tonight." There was an undertone of distaste as her hands slid down her neck and wrapped themselves to rest on her shoulders. It had been years since the Fire Nation first invaded the Southern Water Tribe, killing or capturing (what they thought was) all of the water benders and setting up camp in the center of the village. Since the girls were about 12 and 14, fire bending soldiers had occupied their homestead. It was just Kasumi, her mother and Aisuko who lived together now; both girls bound to keep their bending abilities a secret or face the Fire Lord himself. Aisuko had been adopted into the family after her parents, who were both water benders, died fighting along side Kasumi's father. Tikanni, the mother now for both girls, was spared because of her lack of a bending ability.
"Oh shit!" Both hands ran through her curled mane. "I completely forgot!" Aisuko, the older of the two and usually the more composed, looked like a little girl who had just been caught stealing kale cookies before dinner.
"Come on, I'll help you out." Kasumi reached out to tussle her best friend's already untamed mane as her other hand ran through her own, much straighter in texture. Walking back to the village, both girls teasing each other and messing up one another's hair, neither one of the benders noticed the man standing motionless across the pond.